Emotions And The Back: How Do They Affect Each Other?

Plato said that the body is the prison of the soul. Sometimes it is not a friend, but rather a messenger who tells when something is wrong by hurting. So if you are wondering what effects emotions and the back have on each other, the answer is quite clear: emotions can cause cramps, tension and pain that drugs do not seem to cure.

Back pain is one of the most common problems in the world, along with headaches. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people is often affected, and this is one of the biggest reasons why people take sick leave from work.

There are also many different things that can lead to back pain. The list includes poor ergonomics at work, hernias, kidney problems, osteoporosis, arthritis, disc herniation, etc. But there is another factor that most people overlook.

As you probably guessed, we are talking about the connection between the mind and the body. But our specific focus today is on emotions and the back, and how what we feel can affect this complex, fascinating combination of bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints and nerves.

Things like stress and anxiety can cause small changes in all of these physical structures. Slowly but surely, they lead to inflammation, lack of coordination and periods that are so painful that they affect your quality of life.

The ways in which our emotions affect our backs are as different as they are interesting. There are some specialists who have no problem saying that our spine not only supports our physical weight, but also handles our emotions.

Our backs are like the pillars of our lives, and we do not say that from a spiritual point of view. Just think of its whole purpose: to protect and enclose our fragile nervous system.

Having low back pain, cramps or, worse, chronic back pain can completely paralyze you. It can force you to stop everything. But this pain is really just a loyal watchdog guarding your house.

When there is some kind of danger, it barks. Silencing it with pills will not help you at all if you do not know what is causing the problem. You need to find out what is threatening your “pillar” – the balance of your life.

Strange as it may seem, back pain is actually one of the most common symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is why you see many people go to endless amounts of physiotherapists and back specialists. They get no relief because what they need is a diagnosis from a psychologist or other mental health expert.

We must not forget that pain is just a neurological phenomenon our nervous system sends through the body. So when you are anxious, scared, disappointed or down, it means that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Irregularities in your serotonin and norepinephrine levels, for example, often give you a higher perception of pain.

Stress and anxiety also lead to higher levels of cortisol in the blood. This is important because it is the hormone that increases blood flow and muscle tension. It also starts certain autoimmune processes that can attack the joints, inflame the nerves and even reduce the amount of calcium in the bones.

Swimming, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants… None of these work if your back pain actually comes from emotional pain. There is even an article in Psychology Today about just that.

They say that emotional problems are a sign that something inside you is broken. This invisible wound usually manifests itself as back pain, headache, digestive problems, etc.

There are some places, such as Duke University Medical Center, that specialize in treating conditions like these. Dr. Benson Hoffman says that 80% of us suffer from back pain at some point in our lives.

It is the most common problem in humans. He wants to show that our emotions and our backs are connected, and that problems such as sadness or disappointment show up in this part of the body. It is a fascinating, eye-opening subject.

Wait a second to imagine something. Imagine that you have an arrowhead on your back full of arrows to get rid of pain, handle it better and defend yourself against anything that can attach to you and become a problem.

• One way to make sure you have enough arrows in your quiver is by engaging in biofeedback therapy. It is an exercise that shows you how to improve your health by becoming more aware of things like blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension. It basically means that your brain is working for you. You do this by paying attention to bodily processes that you have never been aware of before.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be very helpful. It’s a great way to gain more control over your thoughts, process your emotions, and encourage yourself to make better, healthier behaviors a habit.

• It is clear that emotions and the back are connected. Therefore, there is great reason to try different techniques to find out which one is best for you. The American Chronic Pain Association has even more recommendations. Among other things, you can add more vitamin B to your diet or indulge in something called “distraction techniques”. These basically involve training yourself to think of specific images, scents or melodies to distract you from the pain.

Now that you know how emotions and the back are connected, you should also learn how to prevent the pain. Take care of your emotions just as much as you care about your diet, and never forget to move properly. A body that moves and a mind that cleanses itself from time to time are the secrets to good health.

So what are you waiting for? Start!